Neurosurgery Program

The Neurosurgery Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center offers comprehensive care for a full range of neurological conditions, including brain and spine disorders.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Vanderbilt among the top programs in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery care. Our neurosurgeons bring the same level of compassion and expertise to every surgery, no matter how common or complex, to ensure you receive the best possible care.

Neurosurgery: Why Choose Vanderbilt

Highly skilled specialists: Our fellowship-trained neurosurgeons provide the highest level of care for every type of neurological condition – with excellent outcomes. Our surgical team includes doctors with extensive training and experience in neurosurgery and specialized procedures. Often, patients come to us for a second opinion on their diagnosis or treatment plan.

Advanced surgical care: We perform a high volume of complex surgeries requiring advanced techniques. We specialize in minimally invasive endoscopic and robotic surgeries, which can reduce scarring and give you a faster recovery.

Level 4 Epilepsy Center: Vanderbilt is recognized by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers as the only Level 4 Epilepsy Center that treats both children and adults in Tennessee.

Comprehensive Stroke Center. We are a certified Comprehensive Stroke Center accredited by The Joint Commission. This designation recognizes the advanced care we provide for complex strokes and cerebrovascular diseases.

DBS Center of Excellence: Vanderbilt has been a national leader in using deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat movement disorders for more than 20 years. We are recognized as a National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence and perform more than 100 DBS surgeries each year.

Neurosurgical intensive care unit: Our dedicated private rooms are equipped with the latest technologies and safety measures. Our nurses and staff are specially trained to care for patients with neurological disorders. This ensures you and your family receive the highest level of specialty care 24/7.

Support services: In many of our specialized programs, our patient care coordinators help you navigate the surgical process. They can assist with obtaining medical records, scheduling appointments and addressing questions or concerns. Our coordinators can connect you to support groups or other community resources.

Innovative research and treatments: We are at the forefront of discovering new, innovative surgical options to enhance patient care. Vanderbilt was one of the first medical centers in the U.S. to implement and test DBS, and we continue to be one of the most active academic medical centers performing DBS in the country.

Conditions We Treat

Our neurosurgery team is trained to care for a wide range of neurological disorders, including:

Acoustic neuromas

Aneurysms

Arteriovenous malformations

Brain injury/trauma

Brain tumors

Carotid disease

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Cavernous malformations

Cerebrospinal fluid leaks (CSF)

Cerebrovascular disease

Chronic pain

Dystonia

Epilepsy

Essential tremor

Head injury

Meningiomas

Parkinson’s disease

Peripheral nerve injury

Peripheral nerve tumors

Spasticity

Spinal cord injury/trauma

Spinal cord tumors

Stroke

Torticollis

Ulnar neuropathy

Treatments We Offer

Cerebrovascular surgeries: We offer the latest surgical options, from minimally invasive procedures to more complex surgeries, to treat aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and stroke.

Neurosurgery Patient Stories

Jordyn Spann

When Jordyn Spann was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, she launched into research to find the most skilled, experienced center, and referred herself to Vanderbilt. Reid Thompson, M.D., and Alejandro Rivas, M.D, conducted the 16-hour surgery to remove the benign brain tumor in 2015. Watch her story.

Tommy Schroader

At 40, Tommy Schroader had lived with his epileptic seizures for decades. A referral from his neurologist led him to the Level 4 Epilepsy Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He underwent surgery to remove the area of his brain causing the seizures. Now, Tommy is seizure-free. Read his story.